Ariane 5 Generic

Main Data

Ariane 5G

Height*

46 to 52 m

Diameter

up to 5.4 m

Liftoff mass**

746 tonnes

Payload mass***

6 tonnes GTO & 9.5 tonnes SSO

Ariane 5 made its first successful launch on 30 October 1997. Its first operational flight took place in December 1999 when it launched ESA’s X-ray Multi-Mirror (XMM) satellite. Since it became operational Ariane 5 has launched satellites for communications, Earth observation and scientific research.

All Ariane 5 versions are composed of a central core stage to which are attached two solid boosters. On top of this different upper stage configurations are integrated.

In order to launch Ariane 5, ESA built a new launch site at Europe’s Spaceport near to the town of Kourou in French Guiana, as well as facilities to integrate the solid boosters and to produce the solid propellant used by the boosters.